Make an AWD B-body?

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Matt Trakker

Posts : 5087Join date : 2009-07-30Age : 36Location : Reading, MA

Subject: Make an AWD B-body? Tue Dec 07, 2010 3:19 pm

This is just off the top of my head...

I know that an Astro van was constructed essentially as half a unibody- it had the front half of a B-body frame with I think the same front suspension design (I may be wrong somewhat, possibly different parts mixed into it over the years, I know they used the heavier duty bolt patten, ball joints, etc.) that ran halfway down the undercarriage and stopped. The back is fiberglass leaf springs connected to the body shell with a live axle.

In '90 and later the Chevy Astro and GMC Safari vans were available with AWD as an option. I do know this system used torsion bars...anyone think there's a way it could be adapted to a B-body? LOL

You occasionally see lifted AWD Astros, so I don't know if this system is more geared on road or off road use, full-time/part-time, etc...

96Brougham

Posts : 819Join date : 2009-02-02Age : 30Location : Easton MA

Subject: Re: Make an AWD B-body? Tue Dec 07, 2010 5:43 pm

(places wagon body onto suburban frame)... done!

Fred had a caprice wagon body on a lifted 4x4 suburban frame, with a plow! It was sweet.

Fred had a caprice wagon body on a lifted 4x4 suburban frame, with a plow! It was sweet.

I've wanted to do that to a woody wagon since i first saw an el camino on a truck frame. It would just be so....offensive lol.

Cadet57

Posts : 4481Join date : 2010-03-14Age : 30Location : Chicopee, MA

Subject: Re: Make an AWD B-body? Tue Dec 07, 2010 8:32 pm

1984twodoor wrote:

I've wanted to do that to a woody wagon since i first saw an el camino on a truck frame. It would just be so....offensive lol.

Hippies eyes would bleed at the very sight of it

GuestGuest

Subject: Re: Make an AWD B-body? Tue Dec 07, 2010 10:06 pm

I have been talking about that very conversion for at least ten years. Recently Jason and I were talking about it, but it seems the frame has a sharper curve up over the front axles compared to the b-frame. You would have to start with a clean slate with the frame.